“2026 is the new 2016”: Y2K-era Fashion Returns as Secondhand Trades Soar
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
Vintage 2010s styles are resurging among young Koreans, driven by a viral social media meme—“2026 is the new 2016”—that encourages recreating 2016 aesthetics. Secondhand marketplace Karrot (당근) reported dramatic increases: bomber jackets up 276.7% and ankle boots up 136% year-on-year. Fashion platforms also show bigger gains—29CM saw bomber jacket sales rise 402% and destroyed (ripped) denim sales up 307%; W Concept and Ably reported notable jumps in denim and floral dress purchases. The trend is amplified by TikTok and Instagram posts using 2016-style filters and soundtrack throwbacks, with celebrities like Kendall Jenner and Korean idols joining in. Experts say nostalgia-driven buying reflects broader social uncertainty, as people seek comfort in familiar past styles.
